SUCH AS I HAVE I GIVE THEE

Acts 3:1-6 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple, which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms. And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.

It was common for Jewish people to gather in the area surrounding the temple at the ninth hour, and because God's entire New Testament plan for people in the Christian dispensation was still unfolding to the apostles of Christ, Peter and John went up together into the temple for prayer and devotions to God. Prior to this we were told that many wonders and signs were done by the apostles (Acts 2:43). Here, in the lesson text, Luke recorded for our learning one of the many miracles, which they performed in order to confirm their teaching of the divine word of God.

As Peter and John passed through the gate to the temple they came upon a certain man lame from his mother's womb, that is, he was born lame and still suffered from this same unfortunate condition. Each day this lame man was carried to this place, and was laid daily at the gate of the temple, which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple. Without public charities in that day and time, those that were helpless were forced to beg and rely upon the charitable assistance of others in order to sustain their lives. To do so, there was no better place to be seen and receive gifts of kindness than at a gate to the temple where many would pass by. Alms giving is a commandment of God. He assured us that there will always be those that are in need: For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land (Deut. 15:11). And with this command, God gives us this assurance: He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will He pay him again (Prov. 19:17).

It is doubtful if he recognized them or knew who they were, but as Peter and John passed by going into the temple, the lame man asked alms of them as he probably did to all entering this particular gate. And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. Having begged alms of each individual entering the temple area for many times a day and for many years, there is little doubt that it had become so routine to the lame man that he paid little attention to those giving to his needs. But this was to be a special day in the life of this lame beggar. With John at his side, Peter looked intently at the lame man and said, Look on us. Although Peter did not want the personal attention, he did want the lame man to hear his words and know exactly from whom the gift came that he was about to receive. The man, lame from his mother's womb, turned his attention to Peter and John, expecting to receive something of them.

Our Lord gave us this commandment regarding our deeds of charity: Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father, which is in heaven (Matt. 6:1). Here we are taught to give to those in need without expecting praise or acclaim from either the one receiving the gift or from the world around us, that may see or hear of the deeds of kindness that we have occasion to express. Having the complete attention of the lame man focused on Peter and John, Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee. If this were all that was said, it would appear that Peter was seeking praise upon himself. However, the righteous humility of Peter was demonstrated when he gave Jesus Christ all the glory for the deed that was about to take place. He told the lame man, In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.

A few of the following verses describe the miraculous result of the power of Christ Jesus that was exercised through His apostles. All miracles performed by His apostles were done by the authority of Jesus Christ. They never claimed to have the power to do so on their own. Then Peter took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength (Vs. 7). There can be no doubt that those that had witnessed this man's condition beforehand could see the deformity of his ankles and feet. Neither can there be doubt that those seeing him afterwards could testify that his ankles and feet were now whole. The lame man demonstrated his miraculous healing when he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God (Vs. 8).

One can only be amazed by the awesome power of God that was demonstrated on this occasion. If there ever was an appropriate scripture fulfilled, it is this: Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright (Psalm 33:1). The lame man immediately stood, became upright, rejoiced, praised God, and proclaimed Him to be the source of the miraculous healing of both his body and soul. Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, rejoice (Phil. 4:4).

Notice the effect this miraculous event had on those that witnessed what had taken place. And all the people saw him walking and praising God: and they knew that it was he, which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him ( Vss. 9-10). For years the people had been accustomed to seeing this man as one unable to walk - one that had to be carried wherever he wanted to go. They had always seen him as one having a terribly malformed, disabled, and helpless body. Now, after miraculously being made whole by the power of God that was demonstrated through Peter and John, the apostles of Christ, they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.

And as the lame man, which was healed, held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon's, greatly wondering (Vs. 11). To say that the lame man, which was healed, held Peter and John, means that he followed them as they went to the temple, and more than likely, continued to follow them as they went about ministering for the Lord and teaching the gospel message of salvation throughout the countryside. It also appears that many who witnessed this miracle also followed nearby to observe other miracles and hear the wondrous New Testament message of God being taught by these apostles. After all, the confirmation of God's word is exactly the reason miraculous powers were given to God's messengers in the Old Testament era as well as to the apostles of Christ as they preached the gospel message of salvation through our Savior, the Son of God.

To the lame man, and to all that seek God's favors, we need to look to Jesus Christ as the Savior sent from God, hear the inspired word of salvation as taught by the Holy Spirit-inspired teachers of God's word, and obediently follow after the plan of salvation that was designed by God from the beginning of time. Although the apostles had very little of this worlds goods, they were given, by Jesus Christ, the keys of the kingdom of heaven, with this divine assurance: whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven (Matt. 16:19). To the lame man, the apostles, Peter and John, said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee. The same assurance is offered to all that have an open and receptive heart - to all that are truly searching for the hope of eternal salvation, it can only be found in the Son of God, Christ Jesus.